Also, now that we will have covered the latest and greats of the minors transactions over the last 9 months, we will also be updating all Jays minors transactions in our new “Jays Minors Transactions” page, so check back there from time to time if you’re curious about what’s happening in the Jays affiliates and depth chart.

End of July 2010

RHP Bubbie Buzachero – Traded – 5’10″ 180 lbs, 29 years old (more…)

Hot Jays Prospects:

1. 2B Jarrett Hoffpauir AAA - Hit for the cycle for the second time this season in AAA and is hitting .353 with 5 doubles, 1 triple, and 3 HRs over his last 10 games. He’s doing everything in his power to get the call to the bigs and could actually become some pretty decent trade bait. (more…)

Top Batting Averages

1. Bradley Glenn – LoA Lansing – .389
2. Raul Barron – HiA Dunedin – .366
3. Brian Jeroloman – AA New Hampshire – .348
4. Mark Sobolewski – LoA Lansing – .333
5. Travis d’Arnaud – HiA Dunedin – .328

To have 2 catchers in the top 5 AVG players in the minors for the Jays is yet another indication of just how strong they are at the position all the way through the minors. the one name most people probably don’t recognize much is Raul Barron, a 24-year old 2nd baseman who is a little over age at his level, but is having an impressive year nonetheless.

(more…)

Here is a review of the major events in the minors for the Jays on Saturday, 24th of April:

AAA Las Vegas – Lost 2-1 to Sacramento

• The 51s were stung by a very effective Trevor Cahill and Sacramento pen, who came in and dominated them over 5 innings (1ER) and 4 innings respectively.
• Brad Mills (2-1, 2.19) took the loss despite providing another outstanding start. He lasted 7 innings, allowed 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 8. His season totals indicate just how dominant Brad has been this season in AAA: 2-1, 2.19, 24.2 IP (just over 6 innings per start average), 20 hits allowed, 6 ER, 1 HR, 6 BB, 32 Ks, and hitter have a .222 average against him thus far. LHBs in particular are being dominated by Brad as they hold a meager .118 average against him. It’s nice to have this kind of insurance in AAA for the Jays. I’m not hoping he’s required any time soon because the Jays starters have been great thus far, but he is great security.
• Josh Roenicke (0.00 ERA over 8.2 IP) was great once again in relief, as he did not allow a hit or walk over 2 innings of work while striking out 3.
• It’s surprising that LV only had the 1 run since they did manage 7 hits and 4 walks in the game, they just couldn’t hit with RISP as they were only 1 for 13 in RISP chances in the game.
• Jarrett Hoffpauir (.293) was the only LV hitter with 2 hits (including a double), and he also managed a walk.
• Brett Wallace (.283) and Chris Lubanski (.273) had 1 double a piece.

(more…) ]]> http://jaysjournal.com/2010/04/25/jays-minors-review-24-apr-10/feed/ 3 http://jaysjournal.com/2010/04/16/jays-minors-review-16-apr-10/ http://jaysjournal.com/2010/04/16/jays-minors-review-16-apr-10/#comments Fri, 16 Apr 2010 11:13:32 +0000 Mat Germain http://jaysjournal.com/?p=1018 Here is a review of the major events in the minors for the Jays on Thursday, 15th of April: AAA Las Vegas – Lost 7-3 Lance Broadway‘s line: 5.1 IP, 6 hits, 5 walks, 4 ER, 4 strike outs, and now has a 3.48 ERA on the season. Zach Jackson didn’t give up a run [...]

Jays Minors Review: 15 Apr 10 - Jays Journal - Jays Journal - A Toronto Blue Jays Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More

However, the story all Jays fans will want to hear about his the fact that Brett Wallace, while playing 1B – not 3B, hit his second HR of 2010. It seems the Jays have already decided to move Brett to 1B and will have to wait until Lyle Overbay is departed to bring Wallace up to MLB. Brian Dopirak, meanwhile, was the DH in the game and went 2 for 4. Jarrett Hoffpauir led the way in hits for the game, going 3 for 5 with a double and also driving in 3 runs. Chris Lubanski was outstanding in the game going 2 for 4 with a HR of his own and a double, while Jorge Padilla had 2 hits as well.

The wins keep coming for Las Vegas, as they now sit atop their division with a record of 4 and 1. They meet Fresno again over the next 3 days.

Brett’s game stats were not overly dominant, but they were effective. He threw 5 innings, gave up 6 hits that resulted in 2 earned runs. More importantly, he struck out 8 hitters and didn’t walk any, which showed his propensity to throw strikes (65 of 92 pitches). Josh Roenicke and Sean Henn followed up his outing with 3 shutout innings of their own, while Rommie Lewis skated with danger, giving up 1 ER over 3 hits but still getting the save in the end (his second of the season).

Chris Lubanski, Jorge Padilla, Jarrett Hoffpauir, and Jesus Merchan all had 2 hits a piece, and Lubanski added a SB. For those wondering how prized acquisition Brett Wallace is doing, he went 0 for 4 (2 strike outs) and is now hitting .214 on the year. Let’s hope that changes some time soon – at least before he is sent down to AA.

Las Vegas is now 3-1 on the season and looking good overall. They should be able to do this well all season long and that winning attitude should transfer well to the Jays when promotions occur. Good stuff! It’s nice to know the Jays have a winner like Brett Cecil waiting in the wings.

• Joey Gathright was released and will have to find a new home to play in for 2010. It made sense to release him since Darin Mastroianni is destined to play CF in AAA and there’s no way Joey was going to accept playing in AA.
• Brad Emaus was assigned to minor league camp. Chances are he’ll begin the season in AAA after a wonderful spring that had a lot of people wondering if he’d be able to earn a bench spot. His demise seems to be based on last season’s lackluster stats in AA.
• Chris Lubanski was also reassigned to minor league camp and will also head to AAA and will represent depth at the OF position for the Jays. That leaves utility Mike McCoy and Jeremy Reed left in camp, both vying for 1 bench spot.
• The Jays recently resigned RP Jonah Bayliss who will try his hand in AAA Las Vegas for the second year in a row, although he did leave for Japan for part of 2009.
• The Jays also signed 29 year old FA SP B.J. LaMura, who had last been with the LA Dodgers, but spent 2009 in the Independent league. He finished 2009 with a 10-10 record, 28 GS, 147 IP, 71 BB, 98 Ks, and a 4.95 ERA. Perhaps the Jays will look to turn him back into a reliever, because he was much better in that role between 2005 and 2007, although his walk rate has always been horrible.
• The Jays brought in Calix Crabbe, Manuel Mayorson, Kenneth Wilson, Jonathan Jaspe, Daniel DeLucia, and behold, they also brought in Welinton Ramirez, who I wrote a piece about and posted it today. All of these players will get marginal playing time, if any at all.
• Dustin McGowan has been shut down for 2 weeks after experiencing more shoulder issues. I don’t think we can count on much from Dustin this season, and if we do, it should be as a reliever in my opinion.
• Jesse Carlson, meanwhile, has fared much better with his knee issues and threw without pain in a minor league game March 26th.
• Jordan Bastien gives us his season predictions for the lineup here. Almost exactly as I predicted in February. I like it!

That’s about it for today, although with a rained out day, it could be just the beginning of a lot of moves!

McCoy has 6 hits, Gathright has 3
McCoy has 3 walks, Gathright has 1
McCoy has 1 extra base hit, Gathright has none
McCoy has a .750 OBP, Gathright has a .235 OBP
MCCoy has .778 SLG, Gathright has .188 SLG
McCoy has .667 AVG, Gathright has .188
Both have been caught stealing once, while Gathright has stolen 1 base.

Knowing all of this, and also realizing that the battle is there between Jeremy Reed, Joey Gathright, and Mike McCoy for a bench spot, what does the Jays blogger Jordan Bastien write about? How great Joey Gathright’s chances are of making the club. Why? Because he is getting the feeling, from Gaston and the playing time, that Gathright has a real shot at making the team. The subtitle of his Gathright article even says “Veteran competing for Jays’ left-field job with Snider, Reed”….really? Wow. Should I be excited to go to the game and watch a LF that couldn’t make any starting roster in 2009 and was dumped by Kansas City? Shouldn’t I get some sort of discount on my tickets if that happens? Please tell me it’s not going to happen. Please tell me that Travis Snider will not be replaced in LF by Joey 1 tool Gathright. Put Chris Lubanski in there, Jeremy Reed, Mike McCoy, anyone, just not Gathright. He is not a starter and has no potential to grow into one. None. My argument and desperation don’t end there, however.

Jordan Bastien does make the point that in the fight for the bench spot, it comes down to Reed, Gathright, and he specifies McCoy as a utility man. That, to me, is the most important point. If you’re already getting a better performance from a guy who is just as speedy, if not speedier than the others, and he can play 2B, SS, 3B, LF, CF, RF, C, and pitch the odd inning, while the others can only play LF, CF, RF….which one do you keep? Yet, who is the article based on? Joey Gathright. Who is getting the attention and playing time? Joey Gathright. Why? Is it because he’s made some nice catches against the Jays in the past or because he used to be with the Red Sox? I have no idea, and no answers, just questions.

I don’t get it. I just don’t get it. I don’t get why Mike McCoy isn’t getting more playing time even after performing a ton better in a limited role. I don’t get why Travis Snider continues to hit in the 9th hole since it’s not working for him. I don’t get why Joey Gathright is still the leader for the bench spot in the OF when all he has to play with is speed and he’s played as his history suggests thus far. No hitting, just speed. Newsflash – you need to be on base to use your speed! And that’s exactly what McCoy does, he gets on base!

I’ll update this battle next week or so, but it better start shifting towards more playing time for McCoy, or it’s going to be one long season under Cito Gaston folks, I can guarantee you that.

• Vernon Wells continued his strong start with his first HR of the spring, and is now hitting .600 after 5 games;
• Jose Bautista has done better, hitting .636 from his new home at the top of the lineup, and went 1 for 3 with his 2nd HR of the spring coming off Jeremy Bonderman to lead off the game;
• Randy Ruiz created some seperation between him and Brian Dopirak by crushing a grand slam off of Bonderman and is now hitting .615 on the spring;
• Reserve OF candidates Chris Lubanski and Jeremy Reed doubled and Mike McCoy went 1 for 1 but was caught stealing by Rabelo;
• The Jays managed 13 hits on the day, which gives them a total of 45 hits over the last 3 games. Talk about starting out with the hot bats!
• Brian Tallet, who could be the leading candidate for the 5th spot in the rotation according to this Jordan Bastien piece, struggled during his 2 innings of work. He allowed 4 ER through 4 hits and 2 walks. He still got the win however, and the pen candidates really shut the door behind him, allowing only 1 ER over 7 innings with only 5 hits allowed and no walks. The pen does look great so far!
• If Travis Snider continues to slump at the bottom of the lineup, I have a feeling he’ll be heading to Las Vegas. I’m not sure why he’s struggling so much, but with Jeremy Reed and Chris Lubanski lurking for his spot and with Snider still having options, he needs to get the bat going if he wants to keep his job. Besides, Randy Ruiz is proving all of the power the Jays wanted out of Snider, so if they play Adam Lind in LF they can fit Ruiz in at DH, which gives them a more potent lineup for 2010. Obviously, having an effective Snider is much more important, but he needs to learn to hit to his abilities first. I didn’t think this could or would happen before the spring started, but it’s definitely looking more likely now.

For those who are interested in watching hyped up players and seeing if they are as good as the hype, are you ever in for a treat over the next 2 days! First, we get to watch Aroldis Chapman take to the mound versus Kansas City in the late afternoon today. He will be followed by Stephen Strasburg, who is scheduled to take to the mound Tuesday against Detroit. Both pitchers are worth the look and should be fun to watch when they arrive in 2010, whether it happens at the beginning or middle of the season. It’s pretty rare that the league has two pitchers of this caliber making their starts. Let’s just say I’m glad they’re in the NL and that the Jays won’t have to face them for years to come!

Injuries are starting to pile up league wide which could get the ball rolling for trades. Angel Guzman, a RP with the Cubs they were counting on to set Carlos Marmol up, has gone down this spring and heightens the chances of a deal between them and the Jays. They’ve been interested in Jason Frasor for quite a while. Another team may be on the lookout for a RP however, as Joe Nathan has just been taken to get an MRI on his elbow. Minnesota has some internal options to take a spot in their pen, such as Anthony Slama who has dominated in the minor leagues or Rob Delaney, nut they could be on the lookout for more established and experienced names. When you consider the money they’ve spent to be competitive this season, from just $65 million in 2009 to over $93 million in 2010, you know they’re serious about winning and will deal if they have to in order to plug some early holes. It may be that Nathan will be fine, but Alex may have another trade partner here.

Other players who have gone down to injury across the league include C Russell Martin (to be replaced internally by AJ Hill and Brad Ausmus), and 3B Alex Gordon in Kansas City (to be replaced by Alberto Callaspo).